Following last year's launch of the Sony NSZ-GS8 Google TV set-top box, late last week Sony unveiled in its Sony Blog that the 3rd version of its "Internet Player" is soon released as the Sony NSZ-GS8. That's somehow impressive since it doesn't look like Google TV is anything but successful. Nevertheless, Sony isn't giving up and is still supporting Google's TV platform which is still based on AndroidHoneycomb. While Sony hasn't unveiled any specs, the GS8 looks pretty much like the GS7 except that it is now featuring a microphone in the remote control which allows voice control. The rest, including the remote control itself seems to be unchanged, except that the RC lost one hardware button where the microphone is now placed.

On one side, it's good to see that Sony hasn't given up to support Google TV, on the other side it doesn't look like Google is taking care about its home entertainment product, even if it has a lot of potential. My love to my GS7 is a kind of love/hate relationship. While it could - theoretically - do a lot, it's pretty limited from the Google Play store support (most apps there appear as incompatible even if they actually would work).

Anyway, if you are looking for a new TV gadget, the new Sony Internet Player with Google TV (NSZ-GS8) will be in Sony stores and other electronics retailers in the U.S. in early July, selling for US$ 199. Yet no word about launches in other parts of the world but I would expect that the GS8 is replacing the GS7 in Europe as well.